IIRC, I read this in a Nancy Zieman book. This produces perfectly even gathers. Cut a piece of clear elastic exactly the length you desire for the gathers (for example, the exact width of a bodice, front and back) plus two inches. Mark the one inch point on each end with indelible ink (the tails will be your holding points when you start to sew). Then, using the one-inch marks on the ends as the starting points, mark fourths, eights, or sixteenths (or even thirty-seconds) with indelible ink. Pin mark the skirt in the same increments. Pin the elastic to the skirt using the marks, with the one-inch marks as the starting and ending points. Secure them by sewing them down at the marks. Stretch the elastic from point to point and sew down around the skirt using a short zigzag stitch. The elastic will shrink to its original length. Then pin the skirt to the bodice and stitch together.

Made In Australia

PureJoy said... (1/11/14 12:18 PM)ReplyThank you this will be helpful for many of my projects

Debbie Lancaster said... (5/30/09 11:35 AM)ReplyRubyRose, regular elastic won't return to its original length, while clear elastic does pretty much. Sew-through woven or knitted elastic stretches out and doesn't return to its original length, so you'd have to experiment.

RubyRose said... (5/29/09 12:00 PM)Replythankyou so much!
this is indeed helpful! would it still work with normal elastic? i am using a heavy-ish fabric do may need to use a slightly more heavy duty elastic

SewVeryTall said... (3/2/04 12:02 PM)ReplyGreat tip, I use it too. The clear elastic is handy for so many things, and adds no bulk to projects.

alyssa said... (2/25/04 8:39 PM)ReplyBefore sewing the clear elastic on, make sure to stretch it on your hands a few times. It will become somewhat longer then it's original length, but after that it will not "grow" anymore.this tip also comes from Nancy.

J_J said... (2/25/04 11:51 AM)ReplyThis tip sounds too easy to be true. I'll have to try it with my next project that needs gathers.